When you read this, I will be in the Finger Lakes, on vacation with friends. I hope to have some pictures and stories to share with you next week. For now, I'd like to share another of my backlist titles which features a BDSM theme.

I was thrilled to be one of three authors whose stories were chosen for Binding Ties, a special call Samhain put out a few years ago. My novella, Bound by Design, was released along with the two other novellas, separately as a download in September of 2009. The next year the print anthology, Binding Ties, was released.

Blurb:

Jenn spends her days crafting custom-designed slave jewelry, but wear a collar herself? No, thanks. Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. That whole Master/slave scene was too much of a roller coaster ride. Then Scott, an architect with a dominant side, enters her life. Something about him makes her body come alive with longings for another taste of the lifestyle.

Scott’s life fell apart when he tried to deny his dominant tendencies. He’s determined to convince Jenn that denying her submissive needs would be a big mistake. Her response is so strong, so sweet, he finds himself falling again and falling apart for the smart and sexy sub.

Suddenly, something he thought he’d never have seems within reach—a forever love tied up in a nice leather bow. But any mention of 24/7 sends Jenn flying away in panic. If any real healing is to take place, he’ll need to take a giant step back and design a new approach using ropes, chains…and a whole lot of trust.

Excerpt:

He covered her hand with his. “Why don’t you tell me about your experience with bondage?” He slid his hand up and shackled her wrist with his fingers again. “Was it so terrible that you resist it even when your body craves the binding?”

She looked away from him, staring into the shadows surrounding them. She did crave it. The security of the bondage. The freedom of letting go of the control she normally held onto with an iron grip. But she didn’t want to lose herself like she did before. Could she bring herself to admit her experiences with Rob?

He cupped her chin and turned her face so he could study her. “Talk to me, Jenn. What are you afraid of?”

“Losing myself,” she blurted.

“No, you should never be afraid of losing yourself. You’ll find yourself, Jenn, if you surrender to your needs.”

She shrugged and looked down at her hands clenched in her lap.

“What happened?” He stroked her hair, soothing her nerves. “Was it recent?” His voice hardened. “Did someone around here treat you badly?”

“No. It was back in college.”

He cursed. “A boy playing at being a Dom?”

“I guess. But then I guess I was playing at being a sub.” Neither one of them had really known what they were doing. But when it was right, it had been amazing.

“I’m sorry you didn’t have a good experience.” He kissed her softly. “So basically your body responded even though he didn’t treat you right?”

“He didn’t always treat me badly,” she said, but she shivered as she remembered being tied up and left for hours while he got drunk with his buddies. “I think the power trip got to him.”

“A Dom’s first consideration always should be his sub,” Scott told her. He grasped her shoulders with his strong hands. “I want to show you the way it should be. Let me show you how good it can be, Jenn. Give me the weekend.”

Reviews:
"Bound By Design is a sexy novella that will have you squirming in your seat as you furiously flip its pages while two wounded souls find BDSM bliss in each others’ arms." Two Lips Reviews

"It's a delicious story, that will have you holding your breath, smiling a knowing smile during some of the more intimate scenes, and wishing Scott were there with you right then. It was a quick story full of desire that will make you crave just a little bit of naughtiness in your life. Don't miss this book." Veiled Secrets Reviews

"What makes this story is the emotional growth of Jenn. The romance, sizzling sex, great pace and dialog make this a wonderful read. Don't miss this one!" Just Erotic Romance Reviews

Bound by Design is still available for download at the Samhain store or any e-book site. The print anthology, Binding Ties, is also available if you'd like to read all three sexy bondage stories.